Most common 1999 Suzuki Esteem problems
Share of the 20 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Suzuki Esteem complaints by model year
Best Esteem years: 2002, 1996, 1997. Years to avoid: 1998, 1999, 2000. Compare all years →
What 1999 Suzuki Esteem owners say
Engine & cooling
We bought the car on June 13, 1999 and after two weeks noticed drops of oil in driveway, the problem wasn't very noticeable at first than around 5 weeks after purchasing the vechicle noticed more oil but bigger drops and under the hood oil that had been spraying over the engine. We took the vechicle in on July 28, 1999 to the dealer and the problem was shown to be a cracked gasket cover . The vechile was in the shop for 1 whole week . We picked up the vechicle with the impression that the vechicle was checked over and repaired on aug 4th 1999. On Friday two days after picking up our vechicle we noticed oil on the drivewaa y again. Today which is Saturday August 7, we are losing oil but more as a drip instead of just a ffew drops. Under the hood there is a pool of oil around the base of the engine and around the spark plugs. …
The 1999 Suzuki Esteem I purchased started havin g trou ble keeping up speed on 5-29-02,they refused to even look at it, until a month later when I went back up there again. The problem with the car is htat there is sealant on the #1 plug, and all they say is wrong with it is the #1 fuel injector,which they want $500.00 to put it in.ive had at least 3 other mechanics tell me that the head gasket is blown, or the head is cracked on the car, and the dealership I bought it from refused to check it out.
Suspension
Front suspension crossmember corrosion of 1999 Suzuki Esteem glx wagon I have this vehicle and running OK for 5 years. When I did my annual check up this weekend, it was found out that the front suspension crossmember has been rust-through and formed a crack in the area of the right front lower control arm attachment brackets. By visual inspection, this member is highly corroded compared with other parts on the bottom of the vehicle. The mechanic did my inspection was surprised that I was still driving this vehicle because if I hit a pothole on the road and this suspension crossmember could easily break and would loose control of the car and I could be killed. I did a little search online and found out this is a common problem in similar models of Suzuki vehicles. However, there has been no recalls on this issue. …
My 99 Esteem stared pulling to one side while driving. As I attempted to get it home the wheel would rub on the inner fender well when turning. Upon inspection when I got home I found the driver side subframe rusted through on top and outer sides with only the inside portion intact. This part had bent allowing my wheel to change position. The rest of the undercarriage seems to be in good shape while this section has rusted away. Thankfully, this did not happen at highway speed or that I did not hit a pothole while driving. This could have broken and caused total loss of control, ending in injuries and/or fatalities not only to the occupants of my vehicle but to other cars in my vicinity. I understand that this is not uncommon on this vehicle an sincerely believe that this is an issue that merits immediate attention before people are killed.
Body & structure
Sub frame of 1999 Suzuki Esteem had rusted thru .I was driving at 70 miles per hour when the sub frame cracked and pushed the passenger front tire back against the fender caused the front tire to lock up which caused me to wreck. I spoke with Suzuki and gave them my VIN number and was told that part was on recall and to have my car towed in and they would fix that part. Two days later I was called and told that the recall had expired 3 months earlier. I was never notified and was also wondering how a recall on a safety issue could expire. I have seen hundreds of complaints on forums about the same issue and it is always the passenger side.
I own a 1999 Suzuki Esteem, 55,000 miles, car is kept in a garage. My sub frame rusted in half and broke. The aaa person that towed the car, 2 mechanics, and every male I have told are appalled that this could have happened. My mechanic called fred martins Suzuki, where is was purchased, and spoke to the mechanic there. He was told 3 subframes had been fixed during the month of July, but no recall was made. This is supposed to be one of the strongest parts of the car. Fred martin Suzuki has informed me that nothing can be done , after all the car is 6 years old, not under warranty, etc. Do I have a legitimate complaint, seeing as this could have caused a fatal accident had it broken while driving on the expressway. Is this something to be expected of a six year old car? The car was repaired at the cost of $1,100. …
1999 Suzuki Esteem engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 31 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 31 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Suzuki Esteem a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Esteem rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Esteem at the same age. It is one of the Esteem years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Suzuki Esteem?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the suspension (4) and body & structure (4).
How many recalls does the 1999 Suzuki Esteem have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Suzuki Esteem. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Suzuki Esteem?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 1996 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998, 1999 and 2000. See the full Suzuki Esteem years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Suzuki Esteem problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.